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Man busted for E Pike parking lot anti-gay taunt pleads not guilty to hate crime

The suspect in a hate crime case stemming from an alleged anti-gay taunt and threats in a parking lot at Pike and Broadway remains jailed after pleading not guilty to malicious harassment and a weapons charge in Seattle Municipal Court.

Michael Roderick, 25, returned to court today for a pre-trial hearing.

In the alleged bias crime, police say Roderick yelled anti-gay taunts and attempted to pick a fight with the victim in the parking lot on Thursday night, January 12th. After the victim reported the incident to 911 and police responded to the scene, Roderick reportedly approached officers and was pointed out by the victim. Police placed Roderick under arrest and found he was carrying an air pistol and alleged drug dealing paraphernalia including a scale and containers with drug residue. No drug charges are currently filed in the case. He is currently jailed on $5,000 bail.

A female also arrested in the incident has been charged with assault and has pleaded not guilty.


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douglasm
12 years ago

Interesting. When I reported to a police officer on Broadway that a group of (maybe homeless) teenagers were taunting me on the sidewalk calling me “Faggot” and not allowing me to pass by he told me it was free speech and the police won’t do anything unless they physically attack me. Should I have gone over his head and called 911? In the end, I went the other way, crossed Broadway and walked across the other side of the street.

kerry
kerry
12 years ago

The victim in this case was actually threatened with physical violence, which might be where the cops draw the line between “free speech” and “bias crime.”

JimS.
12 years ago

I think that could be it. I was told threatening someone with physical violence is considered a “terroristic threat”, which is illegal. The hate crime element would compound the penalty if it was determined the threat was motivated by some bias against victim, in this case if he was perceived to be gay (even if he wasn’t).

src
src
12 years ago

I think the threat is where the law draws the line between free speech and crime – see RCW 9A.36.080. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9A.36.080

TheGayAtheist
12 years ago

I was at that intersection on New Years (100% sober) and i was photographing the hot dog stand by the gas station and the chinese guy comes out and tells me to stop. He claims it’s illegal to photograph his hotdog stand.

Some cops were nearby and he called them over.

They told me he was right. I have no right in Seattle to stand there and photograph thi hotdog stand.

The Seattle Police are clowns.

truthful
12 years ago

you told him to take a flying leap I hope. it’s perfectly legal to take a picture of anything you want that’s in full view from a public place, be it hot dog stand, police arresting a person on the street or an ugly car parked at a gas pump.

Meowzers
12 years ago

The guys who run that hot dog stand are insane. I’m trying to get them moved away from my apartment bldg., and it’s not going well. They seem to attract a ton of “interesting” people, and stay open until 4-5:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday, every weekend. Help ;)

TheGayAtheist
12 years ago

No. I did not want to get arrested. He sat me down on the front bumper of his car and had his partner watch me. He took my licence and ran it. Then I took the lecture the cop gave me and thanked him and left as fast as possible.

A few minutes before this happened, on Broadway, I was videoing the New Years crowd and the tall, fat drag queen from Julia’s told me to stop!

It’s times like this I long for the freedoms I had in Texas. Texans don’t mind photography so much as these seattle folks.

JimS.
12 years ago

Um, Drag Queens are not law enforcement officers. You don’t have to do everything a Drag Queen tells you. Unless you’re watching her show. In which case, you’d better, if you know what’s good for you.

A neighbor
12 years ago

Assault is the crime which the victim fears violence. Not to be confused with battery which is the actual violence.

You should have told the officers you felt threatened (if you did), otherwise, name calling, while childish, is indeed protected speech.

caphill@hotmail.com
12 years ago

Its not illegal to call you names. It is only illegal to commit a crime where the only intent/reason for doing so is based on one’s race, religion, sexual orientation. For example….two people get in a car accident. They get out of their cars and an argument ensues. Blows are exchanged. While fighting one of the combatants yells, “Take that faggot!” That is not Malicious Harassment, reason being the fight was over the collision and not based on someones status as a protected class. On the other hand if a pack of kids are wandering Broadway and yelling slurs or derogatory things at other pedestrians and eventually assault someone it would likely fit under the Malicious Harassment statute.

Caphill@hotmail.com
12 years ago

You are probably giving half the story. If you are standing on private property (gas station) and the proprietor asks you to leave because he/she doesn’t want their picture taken then you are required to leave. You could stand on the sidewalk and snap photos all you want, but if they want you off the property then you have to leave.

TheGayAtheist
12 years ago

How Cute. You know where I was standing. That is not a law or a city code that could ever be enforced. Lawyers get paid to flush that kind of Commie shit down the toilet.( if any DA choses to waste tax money prosecuting such BULLSHIT).
The HotDog Boy is going on YouTube in a not-so-favorable light.

Bend over Caphill…you need a dildo up your ass, silly cow.